Method for in vivo testing of biological response modifiers including monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

In vivo method for determining the ability of biological response modifiers, including monoclonal antibodies, to interact with tumor tissue. A fresh, surgical tumor tissue specimen is implanted under the renal capsule of a host organism. A biological response modifier is administered to the host organism. The degree of interaction between the biological response modifier and the tumor tissue is determined. This method is particularly suitable for determining the ability of a biological response modifier to interact with fresh, surgically-obtained tumor tissue when using an immunocompetent host in an assay of short duration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for determining the ability of a biological response modifier to interact with tissue cells comprising: a. implanting fresh, surgically-obtained tumor tissue under the renal capsule of a host organism;   b. administering said biological response modifier to said host organism; and   c. determining the degree of interaction between said biological response modifier and said tumor tissue.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said biological response modifier is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein said biological response modifier is a polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said biological response modifier is a vitamin derivative or precursor. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein said biological response modifier is an interferon. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein said biological response modifier is a naturally-occurring substance. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6 wherein said naturally-occurring substance is interleukin. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein the host is a rodent. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 wherein the host is immunocompetent. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 8 wherein the host posesses no thymus gland. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1 wherein said biological response modifier is radiolabelled. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein said determining is accomplished by radioactive imaging. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12 wherein said imaging is accomplished while said tumor tissue is located within said host. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12 wherein said imaging is accomplished after said tumor tissue is removed from said host. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 1 wherein said biological response modifier is labelled with a fluorescent substance. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15 wherein said determining is conducted by fluorescent imaging. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining is conducted by a chemical assay. 
     
     
       18. A method for screening a plurality of biological response modifiers to identify the biological response modifiers best suited for treatment of a tumor comprising: a. implanting pieces of fresh tumor tissue of the same type, surgically-obtained from a patient, under the renal capsule of a plurality of host organisms;   b. administering a different biological response modifier to each host organism; and   c. determining which biological response modifier exhibits the greatest response to or interaction with the tumor tissue.   
     
     
       19. A method for predicting the clinical usefulness of a biological response modifier comprising: a. surgically obtaining, from a plurality of patients, fresh pieces of tumor tissue of the same type;   b. implanting, under the renal capsule of a plurality of host organisms, said pieces of fresh tumor tissue;   c. administering the same biological response modifier to each of the plurality of host organisms; and   d. determining which host organism exhibits the greatest response to said biological response modifier or greatest interaction between said biological response modifier and said tumor tissue.   
     
     
       20. A method for determining the ability of a biological response modifier to interact with tissue cells comprising: a. administering said biological response modifier to said host organism;   b. implanting fresh, surgically-obtained tumor tissue under the renal capsule of a host organism; and   c. determining the degree of interaction between said biological response modifier and said tumor tissue.